Special Subject: History of American Capitalism

This discussion-based seminar offers an introduction to the history of capitalism and a broad overview of debates concerning its impacts on social life, with a particular focus on the modern American experience. The United States occupies a central position in today’s capitalist global system and has played a key role in shaping both the development of capitalism and critical responses to its advance. Drawing on primary historical documents and secondary literature from multiple disciplines, students examine capitalism’s historical relationships to race, class, gender, government, finance, technology, and the natural environment.